Al Ahli Saudi FC head coach Matthias Jaissle conceded he had not foreseen such a tense conclusion after his side held on for a 4-3 victory over Shabab Al Ahli in their final AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ fixture on Monday.
Al Ahli Saudi FC head coach Matthias Jaissle conceded he had not foreseen such a tense conclusion after his side held on for a 4-3 victory over Shabab Al Ahli in their final AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ fixture on Monday.
With qualification already secured, the German tactician opted to reshuffle his squad, a decision that appeared justified when the reigning champions surged into a commanding 4-0 advantage.
The contest, however, took an unexpected turn as Shabab Al Ahli mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the deficit to a single goal. Jaissle admitted relief that the final whistle arrived before the visitors could find an equaliser.
“I didn't expect to win by such a result. If I had thought two hours beforehand that we would win like this, it would have been difficult,” Jaissle said. He added that the match offered an opportunity to rotate players and grant others full rest, while stressing the need for greater focus moving forward.
The triumph appears to have secured second position for the Saudi Pro League outfit in the West Zone standings. Despite that achievement, Jaissle insisted there remains significant work ahead.
He called on his squad members to compete strongly for places in the starting eleven, underlining that performances must justify selection.
Jaissle emphasised that maintaining intensity and concentration will be crucial as the competition progresses, even after sealing qualification.
Although Shabab Al Ahli left empty-handed, their place in the Round of 16 was confirmed after Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf defeated fellow UAE side Sharjah FC.
Head coach Paulo Sousa expressed disappointment at the manner in which his team conceded during the first half. He noted that two of the goals resulted from individual mistakes rather than sustained pressure from Al Ahli.
“After the first goal, we tried to get back into the game, but we conceded two goals that weren't the result of Al Ahli's efforts but rather individual errors,” Sousa said.
Despite the setback, Sousa praised his players’ response, suggesting that additional time might have allowed them to complete the comeback.
